Besançon, Franche-Comté 25000

An 18th century country manor house and grounds, all listed as historical monuments in the south of the Haute-Sane department, near Besanon. In the heart of a peaceful village, this property is discreetly set on the edge of a local road. An imposing wrought-iron gate framed by two stone pillars provides access to the courtyard, where there is an outbuilding. The grounds, partially enclosed by stone walls, extend over 5 000 m to the north of the buildings. It was built in the 1760s on the site of an earlier property by Claude-Ignace Dunod de Charnage, King's Councillor at the Franche-Comt Parliament. A country residence that is the counterpart to a town house in Biel, it retains all the attributes of a noble house with a farm and vineyard. Its history is well documented in numerous archives, and its architectural and historical quality was recently recognised by its inclusion on the Monuments Historiques list in its entirety (main building, outbuildings and grounds), making it possible to access support for its restoration and conservation.